IronKey EMS Cloud service End of Life (EOL) Announcement


The IronKey EMS Cloud management system has begun the sun setting process with the End of Life date set for January 1, 2023.

As part of this process, the following IronKey EMS devices will no longer be supported by IronKey EMS Cloud service over the following phases:

Phase 1 (COMPLETED)

Beginning January 1, 2021 all legacy device models (listed below) will be blocked from activation. 

Phase 2 (COMPLETED) (expanded details linked here)

Beginning February 2, 2022 all legacy device management features (such as password reset, device recommission, device detonation) will be fully deprecated. 

Phase 3

On January 1, 2023 all IronKey EMS Cloud services will be permanently shut down. Remaining active licenses are transferable to the DataLocker SafeConsole Management system.

 

IronKey Legacy Device Models Impacted (Phase 1 and 2)

  • S100

  • S200

  • D200

  • S250

  • D250

  • W500

  • W700

  • W700-SC


Background

The legacy devices are being deprecated in part for the following reasons:


  • Security: Legacy software on these devices becomes increasingly vulnerable to new security attacks.

  • New Feature Implementation: hardware constraints and capacity limitations impact the implementation of new software and security features and the latest operating system compatibility.

  • Sustainability: No development support is currently being done or is planned for these models.


Take Action Now

To guarantee you have full support for your devices on the IronKey EMS Cloud platform throughout Phase 1 and 2, replace your devices with a current model device running the latest software version before the January 1, 2021 deadline. 









Licensing

You do not need to purchase a new device license to replace a deprecated device with a supported device. The device license becomes available once you remove the deprecated device from your IronKey EMS Cloud account either through a successful Recommission, a successful device Detonation, or a device Deletion. 

After January 1, 2023, any EMS licenses that are still active can be transferred to the DataLocker SafeConsole Management system.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


  • What does the error message look like for Legacy device activations that are now blocked after 01/01/2021?

    • The x250 and Workspace devices will display this error message:

    • The S100 and x200 devices will display this error:

  • Will I still be able to use my legacy device after the two deadlines?

    • After the 2021 deadline, you can still use your device and perform all management functions on the device with the exception of activating the device (ie. after a recommission)

    • After the 2022 deadline, while the device can still be unlocked with the correct password*, all management functions (password reset, remote detonation, recommission…) will be permanently blocked. (*see What Changes do I need to make to the EMS Console to still be able to unlock my legacy device after the 2022 deadline?)


  • What changes do I need to make to the EMS Console to still be able to unlock my legacy device after the 2022 deadline?

    • No changes are required, however, you will not be able to use any Silver Bullet management features on a Legacy Device after February 2, 2022 (password reset, device recovery etc...).


  • What should I do with my current legacy devices?

    • Work with your Account Manager (or reach out to our sales team using [email protected]) to plan a device hardware refresh prior to the January 1, 2021 deadline to ensure that your end-users aren’t impacted by this change.


  • Will Silver Bullet features still work after January 1, 2021 (Phase 1)?

    • Yes. All management features (with the exception of Activation) will still function after the first deadline. However, it is strongly recommended that you plan a hardware refresh to keep your users on supported hardware.


  • Will Silver Bullet features still work after February 2, 2022 (Phase 2)?

    • All pending Silver Bullet commands will still take effect when any device (including Legacy Devices) check in with the EMS server. However, Silver Bullet command buttons will be removed for Legacy Devices after Phase 2. At that point, any pending commands will remain until the next time the device checks in with the EMS server for an update.


  • How will this EOL announcement impact IronKey EMS OnPrem accounts?

    • All EMS OnPrem accounts will continue to function as expected with both active and legacy devices until January 1, 2023. EMS OnPrem license activations can be done up until that date, after which no licensing changes can be made. 

  • What will happen to missing or lost Legacy devices with a "Pending Recommission" or "Pending Detonation" status?
    • After the 2021 deadline, those pending changes will still be applied the next time the device is connected to a machine that can communicate with the EMS Cloud server.
    • After the 2022 deadline, those pending changes will still be applied the next time the device is connected to a machine that can communicate with the EMS Cloud server. 
    • After the 2023 deadline, all devices with pending statuses will be left in the state they were in based on the last connection to the EMS Cloud server.